Everyone remembers the enjoyment they found in brightening up the pages of coloring books as a child. Crayons, markers and watercolor paints were the fantastic tools used to create something you were proud of, something that was your very own.
Dr. James C. Mills, professor of Art and Design at ETSU, and Becky Hope Kiehna, art teacher at South Side Elementary in Johnson City, have just recently released a book entitled Soul Based Art.
A truly unique publication and completely handwritten, Soul Based Art is a coloring book for adults that correctly and completely entangles art and spirituality without embracing or trampling any specific religion or doctrine.
The artistic and spiritual aspects of a person are declining traits in individuals, according to the book’s authors, and Soul Based Art feeds the hunger that many people have when it comes to those subjects.
“We’re doing a workshop where we work with people and help them to use this book and make it their own,” Mills said, “It’s all about connecting art and spirituality in a playful way.”
Collaborating fully on the idea for the book, Mills and Kiehna started it together about three years ago. Kiehna wrote art-related and inspirational quotes in calligraphy onto the pages that Mills designed with shapes.
“Our personalities really clicked while working on this, and it was like magic,” said Kiehna, a former student of Mills. A happy medium was found between the two artistic minds, Kiehna explained. “I lighten him up, and he makes me serious,” she said.
Soul Based Art is different from other books. “(We) wanted people to participate in it, not just to read it but actually do something with it so that the book becomes theirs as well as ours,” Mills said.
The sections of the book include the meaning of being a soul artist, attempts at defining soul, journal writing, story giving, and creating mandalas, which is a circle drawing technique often used to relieve stress.
Used in many therapist offices, Soul Based Art would be a worthy addition to one’s library.
“Art is therapeutic,” said Kiehna, “It helps people along and gives them a head start.”
To look at a black and white page of a coloring book and transform it into a picture that is bold and colorful, imagination is essential.
In their book, Mills and Kiehna help adults redevelop their sense of imagination, something often lost between childhood and adulthood. “Imagination is everything, it is an expression of your soul.” Kiehna said.
Encouraging a sense of art, spirituality, and imagination in adults through Soul Based Art, Mills and Kiehna give the gift of art to others.
“Art is crucial, without it the lights go out,” Mills said, “It is a celebration of life.”
Soul Based Art was published independently, and will be available at the ETSU Bookstore or by calling 975-5469.

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